Laminating Balsa Wood for Model Planes
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Laminating Balsa is a very satisfying way of creating lovely shapes that are really strong, in this video I show you what I do, it's quick and easy and the results speak for themselves. Thanks for watching and please Subscribe (it's Free) for more build and fly videos.
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I usually rub some candle wax on the template to prevent the laminates sticking.
Also, you can add a huge amount of strength to very light structures by laminating 1/64 ply to, say, 1/32 balsa.
Put the balsa on the edge and the ply inside. The ply will also go a long way to preventing warps during covering.
I’ll laminate anything if it stands still long enough. It’s a great technique.
Thanks for the ideas Crashrr, I'll pin it to the top of the comments, cheers.
Really enjoyed seeing the look of joy on your face near the end of the video, when you look over your newly made parts!
Sorry 😂
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes oh crap dam that auto correct LOL. Let me change that comment! It’s supposed to say enjoyed seeing…..
@@RC-Flight That's even funnier, cheers 🤣
I just started scratch building again recently..and tomorrow im taking a roadtrip to a hobbystore to pick up some balsa and covering film as Im restoring an old Falcon 56 kit after my late father..I always wanted to build my own oldtimer models but have not felt confident with all building techniques, so to me this video was pure gold!! After finding that kit a few weeks ago and I figured out how to print and scale any airplane plan I want a spark was Indeed reignited... I've dabbled with foam/glassfibre and depron but balsa just got that feel to it when youre working with it that you just cant get from synthetic materials , thanks for showing this!
@@Jens-ChristianBrandt-yf6yk Hi Jens, thanks for commenting, it's good to know my videos help and encourage. The Falcon 56 is a favourite of mine, Dad used to fly one back in the 70's!
Have built on and off for 30 years and never really tried this procedure.
What a game changer.
Thank you.
Once you've had a bit of practice you'll find all sorts of things which you can now do in laminating instead of sheet balsa. The more curvy the piece the more satisfying, cheers
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes 👍
That was fantastic!
@@lodollar23 Thanks 👍
great workmanship
@@ONETTH Thanks 🙂
That is so gratifying!
@@markscavo9381 Yes indeed Mark 👍
Your a awesome dude glad you called us all chaps makes me feel important
I appreciate that FF, we're all important ... I'll feel important now you've commented, cheers.
Tips like this will make my model building better thanks to you . Great Vid !
Thanks, we never stop learning, cheers 👍
Brilliant. Thank you. I think I am more into the craft of construction as opposed to flying!
Hi Neil, they're two very different hobbies, both have their satisfactions, I can understand why some modellers are reticent to put them into the air after all that hard work!
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes do you have vids of builds for building a basic aircraft for someone new to this like me? BTW, I am 60 and never built before. I saw your vid on laminating and loved it.
@@neilpenny5475 Hi Neil, as you're very old, lol, only joking, I'm nearly 63, have a look through this build thread ruclips.net/p/PLjgcy0uult_eAQFYOFGhOD9I5ALRfhDM8, it's a kit by Dancing Wings (a Chinese company). But it all depends what sort of model you're interested in? Static, scale, free flight, radio control? Yes, they're all available in balsa with different complexities. Have a look through my Playlists at the Guillow's models as well and come back to me. There are many Facebook groups I belong to loaded with helpful modellers I can recommend to you as well. Comment on any video, I'll see it, cheers 👍
That is a brilliant technique Cliff. What a great way to make light, very strong part parts. Masterfully done my friend!
Thanks Adam, old school I know but the old ways are generally the best plus they can be adapted to modern techniques as well 👍
New to the page. Glad I found you. Building an old Flyline biplane with laminated wing tips and rear stab structure. Big help thanks.
Hi Ken, that's why RUclips is so good, I'm glad you found it useful any more questions just ask cheers 👍 what model is it your building?
Many thanks !!
You bet!
The best way to make the curves. Forget the kit contents or plans. Easy to make a replacement. Thanks
You're right there Irwin, thanks for commenting as usual.
Well done!
Wonderfull job!
Thank you sir because i had an opportunity to learn something valuable today
The great masters of balsa wood construction are unfortunately taking this wonderful knowledge along with them to the coffin for lack of interest from the new generations, or out of pure selfishness.
So I thank you for this wonderful lesson sir
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
You are very welcome Jeca, there's plenty of us on RUclips passing on the knowledge 🙂👍
It really does look like fun.
Thanks.
It is HD, I've just used the same technique on my autogyro rudder, cheers 👍
Currently working on a tiger moth biplane only my second plane ive built this was informative thank you
You're welcome Walter 👍
Thanks Cliff, I’ve had trouble finding a good vid showing this process to help me with my Dumas model. Feeling more confident now - thanks
You're welcome Sharne, if you can play the 12 bar blues laminating balsa wood is a walk in the park 😉 Thanks for subscribing as well.
What a pleasure to watch and thank you. As a lifetime aircraft fanatic and (full scale) pilot, I love to build models. I also make a lot of furniture, trying to do things by hand (dovetails etc.) where possible. Now I'm introducing my kids to the marvellous craft of designing and building miniature furniture, buildings etc. from balsa and your tips will go a long way. Cheers from Sydney - Dave
Your welcome Dave, isn't it amazing how many crossovers there are in different hobbies 🙂
Indeed it must be a satisfying thing as you go along building… and when complete. I’m getting to know you, by watching these… and you’ll be happy to hear, you’re a pleasant gentleman to observe creating these remarkable things. These have been something I’ve admired since I was a kid. To take a box of wood and plans… and make an airplane from them, is something to be very pleased/proud with/of. Ha/ha/! 🤣😂🤣😂
I have built a very basic foam airplane and flown it. But… to be brutally honest. I suck at flying winged craft. I can fly a freestyle quadcopter quite well, though… so I do get in the air! Nothing like it. Especially with a camera and goggles… and all the buzzing around trees n such. Oh! I Can also fly line of sight, very well.
Some day I hope to become good at flying airplanes, as many of my friends are.
Thank you very much for the video!
It takes a lot of time and trouble to put these videos together. Well done!! ✨
Hi BC, it never ceases to amaze me how, lucking inside a little cardboard box, is a bundle of joy just waiting to be assembled and flown. I'll get around to trying FPV one day, those drones are something I wouldn't be able to master, cheers.
Great video Cliff thank you for sharing.
Thank you Ian 👍
Very informative Cliff Harvey. Thank You.
Glad you enjoyed it Tony.
Beautiful work!
Thanks Perry, easier to do than you would think 👍
Thanks Perry, easier to do than you would think 👍
I have done this excellent méthode for à big lazy bee
Easy and hyper strong !
It's a great way of building strange, but strong, shapes Charles, thanks for your comment, cheers.
Excellent video Cliff. Please keep them coming, they help people more than you’ll ever know.
Thanks John, I'll keep 'em coming 👍
It's a real problem for me as these videos are so fascinating to watch and learn from that you can't put them out as quickly as I'd like, unreasonable I know but I find myself looking everyday to see what else you have put up, keep it up Cliff, looking forward to the next one. 👍
Wow, glad you like them Gary, this is just an out-take from my current build actually, I thought I would slip up on YT because it's just so easy to do and the end result is rather pleasing to say the least!
I used to add ammonia to the water when soaking the strips. Makes the balsa more flexible.
I've heard that Damian, I'll pick some up one of these days, thanks for commenting 👍
Nice video and I appreciate the subtle background music so I can hear you narrate. Good job!
Thanks Dave, nothing worse than loud music and wind noise 😁👍
Nice building...now I an going to use that on my Spitfire I'm working on. Thank you
Ideal David, especially for the tail feathers, what size is your model?
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Model will come in abut 1/7 scale..give or take I didn't like the plans for the wingtips and am slightly altering the tail..received a fiberpoly fuse from Europe so the body frame is fitting inside..lot of fine tuning then sand the outside to lighten a bit more an paint like Supermarine .wanted gas but have a nitro I just got..going to take awhile
Hi Cliff and Harvey Fans. Nice job Cliff, gratfull for the video allways good info over here. Getting thing ready to start my one build. Keep up the good work :)
Thanks Julio, whst are you building?
Very easy watching and interesting
Thank you Ian. 🙂
Wow! I was looking for tips on building model furniture and your site came up. I started watching and I must say they are beautiful results you got from laminating the balsa wood in this way. I have seen a similar technique in miniature making where layers of card are put together and then coated on all sides with extra thin superglue, which by capillary action, enters the inside of the piece, leaving it as strong and sandable as a hardwood but obviously much lighter and easier to cut in the first instance. I wouldn't mind having a go at the balsa wood sometime but I have to up my woodworking skills a bit first. This video is well worth a like and a subscription because you never know if skills used for one kind of model making can translate to another and to keep an open mind for such instances.
Thanks Foxy, you're dead right about cross-over skills, if you can do one thing in a hobby it can give you a head start in something completely different 👍 Give balsa a go, it's very forgiving. Thanks for the cardboard tip by the way, not sure when I'll use it but you never know 🤔😁
Great building technique, thanks for sharing that! 👍
Thanks Jerry, most modellers, old school anyway, know this technique but it may be new to some. 👍
I've seen it a lot, just never used it much..
Lovely
Hi Ebenezer, glad you enjoyed it, cheers 👍🙂
Don't forget to subscribe for regular 'Cliff Harvey RC Planes' videos using this link: ruclips.net/channel/UCjnAks7p9kAw7idDD9XtqZw
Very nice indeed 👍
Thank you! Cheers!
It's a very nice vidéo, I love to laminate balsa! even if the scale I use to practice is really smaller, It's one of my prefered step of building, with covering. congrats!
Thanks Jeul, you have a very interesting channel, subscribed 👍
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes cool! Yours is also smart, I suscribed too
I'd like to suggest Sigment for glue since it sands like balsa, not as hard as white glue. You do have to wait for the wood to dry overnight before gluing, though.
Hi Jim, I've not heard of that one, I'm guessing it's made by Sig?
Cool video! I appreciate editing out the sanding bit and the reveal of the smooth lines was very satisfying.
Where do you get your balsa and for how long do you soak the strips?
Cheers Chase, I get my balsa from my local model shop. How long to soak for depends on how soft the balsa is too start and how tight the bend needs to be, you can't over-soak the balsa so anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, best bet is to soak a piece for a few minutes and see if it bends the amount you want 🙂👍
That's a very good technique!! Does it make the Balsa that much stronger?
Yes, much stronger, a combination of the glue and wood under some sort of tension, like when the Swedish build roof supports for the inside of their houses.
Really nice video Cliff, really enjoyable to watch. I have a possible build coming up for which I will need to be doing this, so thank you 😊
Good timing then Mark, glad to be of service, thanks for commenting 🙂
Hi Cliff. I have just found your video and you now have a new subscriber. Lovely work looking forward to seeing your next show. I am about to catch up on your previous videos. I think it may take me a long time. Cheers
Hi Terry, welcome aboard, where have you been lol? Thanks for commenting and have a good look around and comment some more!
Nice demo Cliff. Apologies if this has been covered in another video, this is the first one that I have watched. What material are you using for your building board?
Hi Graham, great question, personally I use an offcut of plasterboard, lasts a while then I turn it over.
Nice building Cliff. Have I missed something? What are you building?
No you haven't missed anything Carl, this is a very quick and sudden build, I've been busy building and not editing, all will be revealed 😉
Hello my friend ! I ask can i color paint a balsa wood and then i fiberglassing it or first fiberglassing and then l paint????
Hi Thomas, I don't understand what you're asking me, can you give me more information? 🤔
Good video! Did you strip 1/16 from a plank or buy srtips?
Just stripped them from a plank Garry, it doesn't matter if they aren't all exact because most of the wood is sanded away when you round the section up.
nice video thanks (I've never built anything like this but I want to one day)
do you have a video showing how to apply tissue paper to the wings?
Hi Pea, yes, have a look at this video ruclips.net/video/30hkLhM4Zro/видео.html
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes thanks :)
Nice one cliff. I have just done a similar thing on a Dumas Waco. I see the subscriptions are creeping up. You will soon be in the tiger moth ☝️
Yes, getting there, my reward is coming 🙂
What did you soak the balsa in for 2 minutes?
Hi Glen, just warm water 👍
Thanks! Building a 1:8 scale Columbia River Gillnetter (boat). My first! Using 1/8" x 3/8" balsa for planking. Mostly gentle curves, but with some twist added near the stern. Appreciate your help!
This video is really great. Can you record a video about how to make the angle of the propeller thrust axis? Thank you.
Hi there, are you asking about side and down thrust angles?
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Yes.
@@qiangqiangpan2362 That's a question with a lot of answers, it depends a lot on the model, whether it's free flight, radio control or control line, as a general rule most models benefit with a couple of degrees of right thrust to counteract torque, down thrust depends a lot on the sort of model, some require none, others a couple of degrees if not more. Sorry to be so vague but it's a massive subject. Two points though, go with what the designer advises (or copy a similar model if you're designing your own) and, two, the thrust angle can be changed fairly easily using packing washers if you find the model needs it. Eg if she flies straight and level on half power but climbs on full power I would add downthrust 🤔
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Oh, I didn't say it clearly, sorry. Exactly refers to the free flight model powered by rubber bands. But your answer also benefited me a lot, especially the last words. Thank you
@@qiangqiangpan2362 Ok, the first thing to get right is the glide then add 50 turns at a time adjusting the side and down thrust as you increase the winds each time. If it climbs under power add downthrust, sometimes not adding side thrust is useful in helping the model to turn.
Hey cliff what was the youtube channel called. He made balsa planes and flew them in a park in new york. I just cannot find his channel. He built some keil craft planes, a wisp eaglet etc
Hi Matt, you're thinking of domoremath, here's a link, cheers youtube.com/@domoremath?si=a2MnO5hR9Pm7FiNR
@CliffHarveyRCPlanes thats the one geez i couldnt find him-i have no idea why. Anyways thankyou very much bud. Hi from melbourne australia!!
Any reason not to add the shear webbing in the wings before taking off the board. If added when doing the D box would it be more rigid?
Yes, the wing was cut down from my old Veron Impala so already built, but originally built without the shear webs, I just checked the plans on Outerzone and they're not included in the plan, but they add a lot of strength for very little weight gain. I've just weighed the finished model and it comes out rtf 584g, which gives a wing loading of 5oz per square foot 🙂
what kind of glue is that i haven't seen it before ?
Hi Steve, it's called 'Aliphatic', available in the UK made by 'Deluxe Materials', stocked by my local hobby store, basically it's wood glue which, unlike pva, sands reasonably well
Me again Cliff, by the way have you got any Facebook page?
Yes Jeul, facebook.com/Cliff-Harvey-RC-Planes-102972087774363/
Thank you very much Cliff
I want to know how you make your ribs
Hi Solo, the ribs were from the original kit manufacturer from the the seventies. It would be quite possible to 3-d print ribs like these now though I would have thought 🙂
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes yes, but there is something satisfying about fabricating such ribs from scratch and balsa. I thought maybe there was a technique used.
I dislike 3D printing, it has so many issues. I use it for things, but it's not my go-to at all. 3D printing a plane is not like balsa construction in any way. If I wanted to 3D print ribs, I wouldn't be watching a video about balsa construction.
@@SoloRenegade I agree Solo, I've never fabricated wing ribs but it looks so satisfying. I guess one would make a jig and assemble each rib in it. I agree 3-d printing isn't balsa bashing, not much satisfaction in printing something out, cheers.
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes With your content, I just assumed you'd fabricated them yourself.
Good to see some 'proper' building and not foam board rubbish 😉. Prize for first view?
How about a foam board Mustang 😁
Everyone knows you wipe the glue on your pants after spreading glue with your finger.
I like to pick it off actually 😁 Thanks for commenting.
Its strange how hobbies perpetuate right wing political agenda be that rc or amateur radio etc.
How so Darren?
@@darrenheywood128 Generally, these hobbies require attributes like constructive learning, self-reliance, mechanical competence, or physical fitness (model building, radio, car/truck/motorcycles, climbing, hiking, biking). Usually people who identify with the ‘right’ want to hold their traditions, be self-governed, and compete both physically and competently. These ideologies and activities go hand in hand, which isn’t a bad thing🤷🏼♂️
Hi sir I'm an aerospace student workings on a project can you please assist me with it how can i contact you please i need your. Help
Hi, email address in my 'about' section, cheers
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes where
@@FluffFusionc c
Cliffharvey41@gmail.com